To address your question, the statement "Deoxythymidine is a monomer nucleotide of DNA" is true. So, the correct answer is A. True.
Understanding Deoxythymidine
Deoxythymidine, often referred to as dT or thymidine, is one of the four nucleotides that make up DNA. Each nucleotide consists of three components: a phosphate group, a sugar molecule, and a nitrogenous base. In the case of deoxythymidine, the sugar is deoxyribose, and the nitrogenous base is thymine.
The Structure of Deoxythymidine
To break it down further:
- Phosphate Group: This part connects the nucleotides together, forming the backbone of the DNA strand.
- Sugar (Deoxyribose): This five-carbon sugar is essential for the structure of DNA, distinguishing it from RNA, which contains ribose.
- Nitrogenous Base (Thymine): Thymine pairs with adenine in the DNA double helix, contributing to the genetic code.
Role in DNA
In the context of DNA, deoxythymidine plays a crucial role in encoding genetic information. The sequence of nucleotides, including deoxythymidine, determines the instructions for building proteins, which are vital for the structure and function of living organisms.
Comparing with Other Nucleotides
To further clarify, DNA consists of four types of nucleotides:
- Deoxyadenosine (dA) - contains adenine
- Deoxycytidine (dC) - contains cytosine
- Deoxyguanosine (dG) - contains guanine
- Deoxythymidine (dT) - contains thymine
Each of these nucleotides contributes to the overall structure and function of DNA, but deoxythymidine is unique in that it is the only nucleotide that contains thymine as its base.
Conclusion
In summary, deoxythymidine is indeed a monomer nucleotide of DNA, making the statement true. Understanding the components and functions of nucleotides is essential for grasping how genetic information is stored and transmitted in living organisms.